Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu was born on the 2nd of February, 1967, in Ngaski town in Ngaski’s local government of Kebbi State. His father, Malam Attahiru Salihu Sununu, commonly called Malam Tanko, was a renowned educationist and local government administrator per excellence. His mother, Hajiya Aminatu, came from the famous Gidan Shawai in Ngaski town.
Dr. Yusuf started his early Islamic education under the tutelage of the late Sarkin Malamai, Malam Yunusa Unguwar Rimi Ngaski. He enrolled in Ngaski Primary School in 1975 and completed his primary education in 1981. He was then admitted to Government Secondary School Koko in 1981. In 1983, he successfully passed the Science Schools Examination of the former Sokoto State Ministry of Education and was transferred to Government Science Secondary School Yauri, where he graduated in 1986.
In the same year, he secured admission into the College of Education Sokoto, now known as Shehu Shagari College of Education. However, at the request of his father, he joined the matriculation program of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto. After completing the program, he was admitted to study Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) at the same University. However, in 1992, due to college accreditation problems, he was transferred along with his classmates to the University of Maiduguri, where he completed his degree program. He was offered provisional registration with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) in 1996, the year he obtained his MBBS. In the year 1996/1997, he was employed as a House Officer at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto.
After completing his Housemanship, he secured full registration with MDCN. He was deployed by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to Ekiti State, where he served in the Government House Clinic, Ado-Ekiti. In 1999, he returned to Kebbi State and was posted to General Hospital Argungu as a Medical Officer. In the year 2000, he was transferred to Government House Clinic as the Personal Physician to the then Executive Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Muhammad Adamu Aliero, and was also in charge of the same clinic.
In April 2005, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu proceeded to Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto for his Fellowship training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. In April 2010, he became a Fellow of the West African College of Surgeons. The same year, he returned to Kebbi State and was appointed as a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and the head of Fati Lami Maternity Department at Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital Birnin Kebbi. He was there until October 2011, when he transferred his appointment to the Federal Medical Centre Birnin Kebbi. In February 2012, he was at the famous World Laparoscopy Hospital in Gurgaon, New Delhi, where he obtained Fellow of Minimal Access Surgery (FMAS) and a Diploma in Minimal Access Surgery (DMAS). Upon returning from India, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu was appointed the Head of the Laparoscopy Unit and was tasked with establishing the practice and training of laparoscopic surgery in the hospital. The unit gained recognition in the country and trained numerous practicing laparoscopic surgeons. In July 2019, he resigned his appointment as Chief Consultant Special Grade 1 at FMC Birnin Kebbi to join partisan politics.
He contested and won the election under the All Progressives Congress to represent Ngaski, Shanga, Yauri Federal Constituency of Kebbi State at the Federal House of Representatives. Currently, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu is serving his second term at the Federal House of Representatives.
While in Primary School, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu was a school football captain. He was the best student in Human Anatomy in the mid preclinical year and distinguished himself in Surgery during the clinical year. He also completed his residency training within the record time of 5 years. Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu is also a renowned Minimal Access Surgeon and has trained many in the field of Minimal Access Surgery in Nigeria.
Working Experience:
- Medical Student: 1992-1996
- House Officer: 1996-1997
- NYSC: 1998-1999
- Medical Officer: 2000-2005
- Registrar/Senior Registrar: 2005-2010
- Consultant/Chief Consultant Special Grade 1: 2010-2019
Political Activities: Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu has been involved in numerous professional politics.
- Former Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Kebbi State branch
- Former Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association Kebbi State branch
- Former Vice Chairman of the Medical and Dental Consultant Association of Nigeria, Federal Medical Centre Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State
- Past Secretary General of NMA
- Past Chairman of NMA standing Committee on Muslim Pilgrimage
- Pioneer Secretary General of the Association of Gynaecological Endoscopic Surgeons (AGES) of Nigeria
- Pioneer Secretary General of the Ngaski Development Association (NDA)
- Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services
- Member of Several Standing and Adhoc Committees of the House of Representatives
Publications: He has many publications in peer-reviewed journals, including the Lancet.
Membership of Professional Bodies/Organizations:
- Member of NMA
- Associate Member of the World Medical Association (WMA)
- Life Member of the World Association of Laparoscopic Surgeons (WALS) India
- Member of the Ngaski Development Association
- Founding Member of AGES
Awards/Honors: Conferred with the traditional title of Danmadamin Yauri by HRH Dr. Muhammad Zayyanu Abdullahi CON, Emir of Yauri. He is a recipient of more than 60 awards and honors.
Travels: Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu has traveled to Europe, Asia, the Middle East, the USA, and many African countries.
Hobbies: Among his hobbies were traveling, reading, and conflict resolution.
He is married with children.
